ANIME NEWS: ‘Ancien and the Magic Tablet’ to kick off Yubari film festival

Kenji Kamiyama’s latest anime film, “Ancien and the Magic Tablet,” will open the 2017 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, officials have announced.

The director is known for popular titles including “Eden of the East,” “Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit” and “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.”

The dream-themed “Ancien and the Magic Tablet” follows a high school girl named Kokone Morikawa, whose forte is to fall asleep anytime, anywhere.

The festival has been held in Yubari, Hokkaido, since 1990.

This year, a total of 86 films will be showcased on March 2-6.

Popular actor Takumi Saito’s directorial debut “blank13” will have its world premiere at the festival.

Other films to be presented in the Special Invitation section include swashbuckler “Tatara Samurai,” Golden Globe nominees “Jackie” and “Lion” and “The Wailing,” a South Korean thriller starring Japanese actor Jun Kunimura.

For more information, visit the official website at (http://yubarifanta.com/?lang=en).

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